Universal joint for steam, gas, or other pipes.



C. G. CUNNINGHAM.; UNIVERSAL JOINT FOR STEAM, GAS, OR OTHER PlPEs.APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7,1914.

l 1 8 l ,437', Patented May 2, 1916.

I wmv/Osea: QAMNA (AMANA To @ZZ whom it may concer/n a joint which Be itknown that I, CHARLES Gr. CUNNING- HAM, a citizen of the United States,residing in New York, county and State of New York, havemade a certainnew and useful Invention in Universal Joints for Steam, Gas, or otherPipes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to universal joints for steam, gas or otherpipes. j

The object of the invention is to provide is universal in operation, toconnect pipes for handling steam, gas or other medium, having` the samefiexibility as the commercial universal joints employed in connectionwith shaftings, like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universal joint capableof replacing ieXible hose which is now used in connection with Vhighpressure steam, water or gas es. Y

lrnother object is to provide a universal joint which is practical,economical to manufacture and practically indestructible in use.

The invention consists substantially in the.

combination, location, construction and relative arrangement of parts,all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth as shown in the drawingand finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to -the accompanying drawing :#-Figure 1 is a view showing auniversal joint embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is asimilar view, parts broken away and parts in section, showing theconstruction of universal joint forming my invention. Fig. 3 is a brokendetail view in section, taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4l is asimilar view on the line fl-Jl, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective of theinner side of one of the connecting plates used in carrying out myinvention. Fig. 6 is a detail view in section on the line 6, 6, Fig. L1.Fig.' 7 is' a showing a slightly modified construction.

The same part is designated by the same reference sign wherever itappears throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention I employ a yoke 1 which is adapted to bescrewed to a pipe connection at 2. The arms of the yoke 1 are cored andat their terminals have trunnions as indicated at 3 and 15. Thesetrunnions may be formed on or applied to rodsv and the broken detailview in section a UNIVERSAL JOINT FOR STEAM, GAS, OB. GTI-IEB PIPES.

Patented May 2, 1916.--

Applcation filed February 7, 1914. Serial No. 817,115.

the ends of the yoke arms in any suitable or convenient manner. I haveshown a simple illustrative arrangement wherein the trun-l nionsconstitute separate pieces from the yoke arms, andare secured to andform continuations of the yoke arm ends, by means of flanges formed onthe yoke ends and trunnions, respectively and bolted together, as shown.Another yoke of similar construction is indicated at Ll'and has the sameconnection 2 in which a pipe is adapted to be screwed, and trunnions 16,17. The

ro. i

CHARLES G. CUNNINGHAM, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

two yokes are assembled in such relation to each other that the axisafforded by the trunnions 3, 15, intersect that aiforded by thetrunnions 16, 17, at right angles. The two yokes are maintained in theassembled relation to which each is permitted free swinging movement onthe axis of its trunnions, by means of plates 5, one of which is shownin Fig. 5. Each of these plates on its inner side is provided with seats6, 7, 8 and 9, which correspond respectively with and in assembledrelation fit over one half the periphery of the trunnions 17, 3, 16 and15.

Each plate 5 also has a baiiie or dividing.

wall 10, which is curved diagonally across it and which separates theseats 7 and 8 from the seats 9 and 6. The two plates 5 are placedtogether so that the edge of the dividing wall 10 of one plate restsagainst that of the dividing wall 10 of the other plate, and also sothat the seats 7 and 8 of one plate it one half around the trunnions 3 4and 16, of yokes 1 and 4 respectively and the seats 9 and 6, fit `aroundone half the trunnions 15 and 17 of the yokes 1 andl 1. 'Ihe seats inthe other plate fit over, in like manner, the other halves of thetrunnions as will be readily understood. The two plates are then securedtogether by suitable screws 11 which are inserted through holes 12 inthe plates, as shown.

In order to permit he free lrocking movements of the yoke trunnions intheir seats in the clamping plates, and at the same time to maintain anefficient tight joint and prevent the steam, gas, water or other mediumbeing handled, from escaping through the joints, I provide means forpacking said joints. A simple arrangement for this purpose is shownwherein I form projections extending peripherally around the exteriorsurface of the trunnions at the yoke, and I form correspondingly shapedand arranged grooves in the seats of the clamp plates to receive saidprojections. I have found that V- shaped projections and grooves wellanswer the purpose. If desired, and in. order to insure against leakageat the joint even when high pressure medium is being handled through thejoint, I propose in one form of my invention, to provide foradditionally packing the trunnion joints. This, in the present instance,I accomplish by cutting down or shortening one of the peripheralprojections of the trunnions as indicated at 20 thereby forming araceway to receive a packing, such, for example, as soft 'lead shot orthe like, indicated at 17, and

tapping a screw 14 through the plates 5 to act upon the packing in saidraceway.

It will be seen that by this construction, a pipe iitted in yoke 1 at 2and leading for instance from the source `of supply of steam,

gas or other medium, will enable the medium to flow through both arms ofthe cored yoke l. The dividing wall 10 of the plates 5 directs the flowof the medium through the two arms through separate channels 18 and 19to the terminals of the arms of the yoke 4. The medium then flowsthrough the arms of yoke 4 until it is delivered to a pipe connected toyoke 4: at 2. By keeping the viiow of the two arms of the yokesseparated enables an unobstructed iiow of the medium to be securedthrough the joint and thus gives increased velocity. By connecting twoor more of these yokes by suitable lengths of pipe a flexible hose isproduced which is strong and practically indestructible and of greatadvantage for it reduces the ydanger gf bursting to a minimum.

Instead of the V-shaped projections and correspondingly shaped grooves,shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, and above referred to, as forming the jointsat the ends of the yoke arms, these projections and grooves may be ofany` other suitable or desired shape or contour in cross section. Thusin Fig. 7 I have shown an arrangement wherein the grooves andprojections are of rectangular contour, and by omitting one of theprojections andlilling the resulting raceway with packing material, suchas lead or the like, I am enabled to secure excellent results anddesirable mechanical and manufacturing advantages. v

Having now set forth the objects and nature of my, invention .and aconstruction embod'ying the-principles-thereof, what I claim as new anduseful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. A universal joint for connecting pipes through which. steam orother medium flows, comprising a pair of cored yokes pivotally connectedtogether by a pair of plates having semicircular seats to correspondwith and t over the corresponding ends of the two yokes', said yokes andseats being correspondingly grooved to permit axial rotation of the endsof said yokes therein without leakage.

2. A universal joint for connecting pipes through which steam or othermedium flows, comprising a pair of hollow yokes the ends of said yokesbeing grooved and adapted to be received between the grooves of a pairof plates which are fitted around said grooved ends of said yokes sothat the ends of said yokes are received in the grooves and are axiallyrotatable therein, said connection between the ends of the pair of yokesand the securing plate forming a packing to prevent the escape of thethrough the joint.

3. A universal joint for connecting pipes through which steam, gas orother medium flow, comprising a pair of cored yokes with grooved andtrunnioned terminals, plates having grooved seats to fit over saidgrooved terminals and to pivotally secure the yokes together and adividing wall in said plates to deflect the flow from the arms of oneyoke into corresponding arms of the other yoke.

4. A universal joint for connecting pipes through which steam, gas orother medium flow, comprising a pair of cored yokes with trunnionedterminals having peripheral projections, a projection of each terminalbeing cut down or reduced to forma raceway, a pair of plates havingseats to fit over the terminals of said yokes and to secure themtogether, a packing inserted in the raceway and a screw passing throughone of said plates to bear against said packing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of thesubscribing witnesses, on this 6th day of February A. D., 1914.

CHARLES G. CUNNINGHAM. l/Vitnesses:

WALTER A. DARBY, ISABEL LEVINsoN.

Minot thl'patent may-be obtained for ve cents nach, by addressing`the.0ommissionerfot Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

medium while passing`

